NCAA to reconsider some recruiting deregulation

[March 08, 2013]  INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The NCAA's board of directors will review two proposals adopted in January that were aimed at deregulating recruiting after some coaches and administrators expressed concerns about the possible changes.

The NCAA announced on Thursday the rules working group will modify proposals that would have removed certain restrictions on who can recruit and the amount of recruiting material that can be sent to prospective high school athletes. The proposals also would lift restrictions on how often coaches can text recruits.

Modified proposals will be considered by the Division I board of directors when it meets May 2 in Indianapolis.

Since the board adopted 25 measures to help streamline NCAA rules regarding recruiting, numerous football coaches and athletic directors have come out against them, including the entire Big Ten. Critics fear that rolling back these rules would "lead to a recruiting arms race."

One proposal eliminated the position of recruiting coordinator and lifted on a ban on recruiting by staff members without on-field coaching duties.

The other proposal made it possible for coaches to have unlimited contact with recruits through texts, email and social media. The other part of that proposal would allow schools no-limit spending on printed recruiting materials.

Athletic directors and coaches have expressed concerns that these changes would be costly to universities, and put those with smaller budgets at an even greater disadvantage that they already are to keep up with powerhouse football programs such as Alabama and Ohio State.

The NCAA also announced the playing rules oversight panel approved a new rule that would allow officials to eject players who target and contact defenseless players above the shoulders, effective for the 2013 season. The ejection would be in addition to the existing 15-yard penalty.

Under Wednesday's decision, players would be ejected for the remainder of the game if the penalty occurs in the first half. If the foul occurs in the second half or overtime of a game, the player is ejected for the remainder of the game and the first half of the next contest. The ejection portion of the penalty can be subject to a video review.

The panel also approved a new rule regarding blocking below the waist and these changes:

• Add a 10-second runoff with less than a minute remaining in either half when the sole reason for the clock stoppage is because of injury.

• To establish three seconds as the minimum amount of time required to be on the game clock in order to spike the ball to stop the clock. If one or two seconds remain on the clock, there is only time for the offense to run one more play.

The panel denied the Football Rules Committee's proposal to require an institution's uniform to be different color than the field of play, a decision that will make Boise State and its fans happy.

The Broncos like to wear all blue uniforms on their blue-turfed home field. The Mountain West banned them from doing it last season after opposing coaches claimed it could give Boise State an unfair advantage.

When Boise State agreed to stay in the Mountain West, instead of moving to the Big East, the conference relented and lifted the ban on the Broncos' blue-on-blue look. The NCAA's proposal would have trumped the MW's agreement with Boise State.

The panel said the proposal would not "enhance the image of the game."

[Associated Press]

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